Roundup: 2 civilians, 28 militants killed in eastern Afghan clash

At least 28 militants were killed after fighting erupted between two militant groups in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar Sunday and two civilians caught in cross fire also died, authorities said on Monday.

"Fighting between Taliban rebels and militants of Islamic State (IS) started in Chaparhar district early Sunday and sporadic clashes are still going on there. The initial reports by army found 21 Taliban and seven IS fighters had been killed and nine persons from two sides wounded by the clashes," Afghan army's Corps 201 Selab said in a statement.

Two civilians, including a nine-year-old girl, were killed and five others also wounded during the clashes in the district in the southern part of the provincial capital Jalalabad city, the statement said.

The motive behind the fighting remained unknown.

Seven houses were set on fire and destroyed during the clashes in the province, 120 km east of Afghan capital Kabul, according to the statement.

The Afghan civilians continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts as 715 civilians were killed and over 1,460 others injured in conflict-related incidents across Afghanistan in the first three months of the year, according to figures released by the UN mission in the country.

On Saturday, a man, who was travelling to hold his wedding ceremony in northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, was killed together with his father and five of his family members were wounded when Taliban fired on a vehicle along a main road in northern Baghlan province.

The UN mission has attributed 62 percent of the civilian casualties over the period to the Taliban and other insurgent groups, 21 percent to security forces while the rest 17 percent were unattributed to or caused by explosive remnants of war. Endit